What is NetPrep?
Why is NetPrep important?
What is the course content?
Will students who take the course receive certification?
What outcomes can we expect for certified students?
What if I am ready to participate in 2001?
What is the difference between NetPrep and Cisco Academies?
Get your questions answered!
Email us at netprep@westnetlearning.com.
Q. What is NetPrep?
A. NetPrep is a school-to-career curriculum that prepares high school and community college students for high-paying careers in network management. NetPrep meets a critical need -- it provides schools with high quality materials and teacher training that will enable them to bring vocational education into the 21st century.
NetPrep has been developed for 3Com by our partners at WestNet Learning Technologies http://www.westnetlearning.com. It is an independently validated curriculum that includes textbooks, CD-ROM, online browser-based materials and lab exercises.
What makes NetPrep unique is that students who complete the program will qualify to receive independent, industry-standard certification -- a ticket to high-paying careers in the fast growing field of network technology.
Q. Why is NetPrep important?
A. According to the US Department of Labor http://www.dol.gov, the fastest-growing job categories over the next ten years will be in technology fields. According to the Information Technology Association of America http://www.itaa.org, there are already over 200,000 unfilled jobs requiring technology skills in mid- to large-sized US companies.
The future of our national economy depends on our ability to train students to fill these jobs. As part of a broad partnership with schools, 3Com has developed NetPrep as a partnership program to support schools in providing students with the skills they need to be members of a vibrant 21st century workforce.
Q. What is the course content?
A. There are four one-semester high school courses:
Networking Fundamentals
Local Area Networks
Wide Area Networks
Network Architectures
These courses have been reviewed by a national advisory board of high school teachers, and have been adapted specifically for high school juniors and seniors. Each course includes approximately 90 hours of instruction.
The eight community college courses are geared at a higher level of difficulty, and are being incorporated into full AA programs by post-secondary institutions throughout the US and Canada.
College courses include:
Introduction to Networking
Introduction to Local Area Networks
Introduction to Wide Area Networks
Introduction to TCP/IP
Internet Technologies
Internetworking Devices
Processes and Protocols
Network Analysis and Design
NetPrep's rich curriculum has been designed to meet a variety of teaching and learning styles. Materials for each course include textbooks, CD-ROMs, online browser-based materials, lab exercises, and assessments.
Q. Will students who take the courses receive certification?
A. Yes. Students who complete NetPrep will receive independent, industry-standard certification through the National Association of Computer Systems Engineers http://www.nacse.com.
This certification will recognize industry-standard competencies in network management. Certification will recognize specific job skills and prepare students for further post-secondary training as well as jobs.
There are several levels of certification, representing different skill levels. Students will work through their schools to receive independent certification from NACSE.
Q. What outcomes can we expect for certified students?
A. We expect that students who receive certification through the high school program will qualify for entry level positions as lab technicians, or for post-secondary study in a variety of technology programs offered in community colleges and four-year colleges and universities.
Students who go through the full community college program will qualify for entry-level MIS positions, or for additional study in technology programs at four-year colleges.
3Com also offers a 3Com-specific training program for professional network managers called the Master of Network Science (MNS) program. Students who complete the community college program may choose to go on to take this program. Students who receive the 3Com MNS certification through this program can expect to qualify for high-paying careers as professional network managers.
Q. What if I am ready to participate in 2001-2002?
A. 3Com will be offering NetPrep to secondary schools and community colleges throughout the US for the 2001-2002 school year. Talk to your local 3Com representative or sign up here to bring the NetPrep curriculum to your students.
Q. What is the difference between NetPrep and Cisco Academies?
A. We believe that NetPrep offers a number of advantages over the Cisco Academy program:
NetPrep is standards-based and platform neutral. Students who go through the NetPrep program will receive a thorough understanding of the basic principles of networking. The course touches on many protocols and manufacturers. By contrast, approximately a third of the content in the Networking Academies program is Cisco-specific.
Students who complete NetPrep are eligible to receive industry standard certification through the National Association of Computer Systems Engineers (NACSE).This certification tells the world that the student has mastered the fundamental principles of networking. Students who complete the Cisco Academies receive certification from Cisco only.
NetPrep offers four semesters of course content for high school students and eight distinct semesters of content for college students. These courses are at an appropriate level of difficulty for the grade level in which they are taught. At the community college level, many of our partner colleges have incorporated NetPrep into a full AA program. Cisco Academies offer four semesters of course content, which is identical at the high school and community college level.
The NetPrep curriculum is rich and diverse. NetPrep offers curriculum materials to meet the needs of a variety of learning materials. Content includes textbooks, CD-ROM, browser-based online materials, and labs. Cisco content includes online and lab components only.
